A massive Iranian missile drill showcasing long range missiles, drones and other weapons is taking place this weekend and serves as a message to Gulf countries, the US and Israel.
It comes a year after Iran launched ballistic missiles at US forces in Iraq and follows Tehran’s sending of missile technology to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen in recent years.
A report said that Iran used drones to attack a missile defense system and then fired a barrage of Zolfaghar, Zelzal and Dezful ballistic missiles. The drones were supposed to neutralize air defenses for the incoming missiles.
Last year Israel conducted a major integrated and multi-layered air defense drill using the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow air defense systems.
On the second day of the Great Prophet 15 military exercise, #Iran‘s #IRGC launched more ballistic missiles–from a distance of 1800 km–at “hypothetical enemy warships” in the Indian Ocean. Another provocative move ahead of Biden’s inauguration. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/8OLdwpbshq— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) January 16, 2021
Iran did a drone drill on January 5 and a naval drill last week on January 13. Iran also used a delta-winged drone during its drill to attack an air defense system on January 15. Commentators said this reminded them of Iran’s attack on Saudi Arabia in September 2019.
A recent report at Newsweek alleged Iran has a kamikaze drone base in Yemen with delta-wing style drones. That report called them Shahed-136, although a drone by that name is not known in Iranian press reports. Nevertheless, it may be similar to the one used on January 15. Reports say some of these drones have a 2,000 km. range, meaning they can reach Israel. The missiles also have a long enough range to possibly target Israel, depending on where they are fired from. They can also target US ships and Gulf states.
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Footage from Iran shows the missiles and precision strikes. Reports on Saturday said the Emad, Sejjil and Ghadr type missiles were also used. Iran wants to show it is a missile superpower. North Korea, which is working with Iran on missile technology, also did a military parade last week, showing off their own new missiles.
It now has a submarine-launched ballistic missile. These two countries are showing what they have built over the last years during the Trump administration, presenting new incoming US President-elect Joe Biden with a kind of massive missile fait accompli.
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